4 ms·

These senators have no actual authority to make these requests, right? They’re really just asking and assigning deadlines that can’t be followed up with any kin

by setr 3y ago

These senators have no actual authority to make these requests, right? They’re really just asking and assigning deadlines that can’t be followed up with any kind of punitive measures? Are they any more relevant than a random redditor demanding the same? This seems really weird

SilverBirch 3y ago
What's really happening here is they're just using their bully pulpit as senators, but technically they could have a congressional hearing, invite Musk, subpoena him and find him in contempt if he doesn't turn up or lies. That won't happen though.
salawat 3y ago
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_of_Congress https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_of_Congress There is very little judicial relief for Contempt of Congress, and it is a crime against the United States as a whole. If you aren't the President (who is currently protected by executive privilege, which I personally think is an absolutely terrible idea), you can not only be imprisoned by the Sergeant-at-Arms. Continued willful non-compliance can be referred to the Department of Justice. Also, while unlikely, there is also the possibility of pissing off enough of both Houses of Congress that they can muster a bicameral supermajority to custom tailor legislation just for you, which would be veto proof and carry force of law. You'd have to exceedingly piss off a lot of Congresspeople to an absurd degree, however. Though it must be carefully done to avoid the Constitutional prohibition on Bills of Attainder. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_attainder https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_attainder I.e. there will likely be Judicial due process involved. However, again, the Congresses's discretion in Contempt of Congress is given a wide berth by the Judiciary. Long story short: Wasting Congress's time excessively is a federal crime, can come with infinite detention, and is just very widely considered damn poor form. There's also the https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mace_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mace_of_the_United_States_Ho... Which looks like it'd hurt like a bitch.

by setr 3y ago

SilverBirch 3y ago

What's really happening here is they're just using their bully pulpit as senators, but technically they could have a congressional hearing, invite Musk, subpoena him and find him in contempt if he doesn't turn up or lies. That won't happen though.

salawat 3y ago

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_of_Congress https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_of_Congress There is very little judicial relief for Contempt of Congress, and it is a crime against the United States as a whole. If you aren't the President (who is currently protected by executive privilege, which I personally think is an absolutely terrible idea), you can not only be imprisoned by the Sergeant-at-Arms. Continued willful non-compliance can be referred to the Department of Justice. Also, while unlikely, there is also the possibility of pissing off enough of both Houses of Congress that they can muster a bicameral supermajority to custom tailor legislation just for you, which would be veto proof and carry force of law. You'd have to exceedingly piss off a lot of Congresspeople to an absurd degree, however. Though it must be carefully done to avoid the Constitutional prohibition on Bills of Attainder. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_attainder https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_attainder I.e. there will likely be Judicial due process involved. However, again, the Congresses's discretion in Contempt of Congress is given a wide berth by the Judiciary. Long story short: Wasting Congress's time excessively is a federal crime, can come with infinite detention, and is just very widely considered damn poor form. There's also the https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mace_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mace_of_the_United_States_Ho... Which looks like it'd hurt like a bitch.